The Passion to Heal: A Theological Pastoral Approach to HIV/AIDS

Abstract. The global pandemic of HIV/AIDS is the most significant challenge of our time. The ongoing conversation between religion and science comes to a critical juncture in this pandemic. The global community has not yet found a vaccine or cure for this virulent virus, which will likely claim five million more lives in the coming year. The global statistics challenge even the most sophisticated imagination, with projections in the tens of millions of people dead, orphaned children, and many more living in various stages of incapacitation or diminished lives. There is a common prophetic religious imperative among Western faith communities that urgently requires both science and religion to respond. Both disciplines define their scope and purpose as universal, and the global pandemic provides a significant challenge to that universal claim. Regardless of the many differences among the nations and peoples challenged by this pandemic, there is a common moral foundation to which the Western religious and scientific traditions must respond. Religion and science cannot deny their respective social responsibilities by claiming the role of neutral bystander. There are several critical ethical choices to be made in response to the pandemic, and the disciplines of religion and science are critical in formulating those choices.     

短声强度为95dB时猫的两耳听现象

研究短声强度为95dB时猫的两耳听现象,探讨两耳干涉作用和交叉听力在听觉脑干电反应(ABR)上的表达。以ABR为检测指标,观察和比较耳蜗破坏前后对侧耳负荷75dB SWN时95dB短声诱发的ABR各波振幅的变化。结果：(1)耳蜗破坏前对侧耳负荷的75dB SWN可使95dB短声诱发的ABR之PⅢ、PⅣ波振幅增大(P＜0．01)。(2)耳蜗破坏后对侧耳负荷的75dB SWN对95dB短声诱发的ABR各波振幅无影响(P＞0．05)。(3)耳蜗破坏前对侧耳负荷75dB SWN时95dB短声诱发的ABR之PⅣ波振幅比耳蜗破坏后95dB短声诱发的ABR之PⅣ减小(P＜0．05)。结论：短声强度为95dB时,交叉听力现象在ABR之PⅢ、PⅣ波上均有表达,与75dB5WN产生的两耳干涉作用仅在ABR之PⅣ波有表达。     

A marginal maximum likelihood method for the vector threshold model to analyze dichotomous choice data

Abstract: At least two types of models, the vector model and the unfolding model can be used for the analysis of dichotomous choice data taken from, for example, the pick any/ n method. The previous vector threshold models have a difficulty with estimation of the nuisance parameters such as the individual vectors and thresholds. This paper proposes a new probabilistic vector threshold model, where, unlike the former vector models, the angle that defines an individual vector is a random variable, and where the marginal maximum likelihood estimation method using the expectation-maximization algorithm is adopted to avoid incidental parameters. The paper also attempts to discuss which of the two models is more appropriate to account for dichotomous choice data. Two sets of dichotomous choice data are analyzed by the model.     

Stepping Responses in Young and Older Adults Following a Perturbation to the Support Surface During Gait

The objective of this work was to investigate the influence perturbation direction has on postural responses during overground gait, and whether these responses are age related. Differences in stepping patterns following perturbations of the support surface were examined in the frontal and sagittal planes during forward walking. Eleven young and 10 older adults completed Mini BESTest, hip strength tests, and 45 perturbed walking trials, triggered on heel contact. Lateral perturbations were more challenging to postural stability for both groups. Step length measures showed young adults recovered in the step proceeding the perturbation, while older adults needed additional steps to regain balance. Young adults arrested center of mass movement by producing larger step widths than older adults following the support surface perturbation.     

动物信号追踪和目标追踪行为及其神经机制

信号追踪和目标追踪的实质是条件刺激和非条件刺激结合诱导的条件性接近反应.条件刺激的预测作用和诱因作用是信号追踪和目标追踪的重要机制;伏隔核、中央杏仁核和前扣带回在信号追踪和目标追踪过程中具有重要作用;然而,大脑皮层和海马损伤对两者影响较小.DA功能降低可损害信号追踪获得和表达;而脑内DA含量增加可提高目标追踪.未来的研究中,应该规范条件刺激和非条件刺激的类型和设置方法,针对不同的研究目的个别地或同时地测量信号追踪和目标追踪.     

Establishing books as conditioned reinforcers for preschool children as a function of an observational intervention

We tested the effects of an observational intervention (Greer & Singer-Dudek, 2008) on establishing children's books as conditioned reinforcers using a delayed multiple baseline design. Three preschool students with mild language and developmental delays served as the participants. Prior to the intervention, books did not function as reinforcers for any of the participants. The observational intervention consisted of a situation in which the participant observed a confederate being presented with access to books contingent on correct responses and the participant received nothing for correct responses. After several sessions of this treatment, the previously neutral books acquired reinforcing properties for maintenance and acquisition responses for all three participants.     

Punitive versus compensatory reactions to injustice: Emotional antecedents to third-party interventions

The almost exclusive focus on punishment and inattention to compensatory alternatives in studies involving experimental games may yield patterns that do not accurately reflect how and when people respond to injustice, particularly if punishment and compensation are not psychologically equivalent approaches to justice restoration. In the current study, we examined participants' preference for punitive and compensatory actions, while also exploring emotional determinants and boundary conditions. Our results indicated that participants actually compensated victims more than they punished offenders and that the majority of participants assigned both. Furthermore, although both interventions were associated with emotional experiences of moral outrage toward the offender, self-focused emotions reflecting feelings of threat only predicted compensation and only when victims were aware that they had been victimized. These findings augment our understanding of third-party interventions, emphasizing the importance of considering response alternatives when studying the psychology of justice.     

Review of first trial responses in balance control: influence of vestibular loss and Parkinson's disease

The reaction to an unexpected balance disturbance is unpractised, often startling and frequently associated with falls. This everyday situation can be reproduced in an experimental setting by exposing standing humans to sudden, unexpected and controlled movements of a support surface. In this review, we focus on the responses to the very first balance perturbation, the so-called first trial reactions (FTRs). Detailed analysis of FTRs may have important implications, both for clinical practice (providing new insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying accidental falls in real life) and for understanding human physiology (what triggers and mediates these FTRs, and what is the relation to startle responses?). Several aspects of the FTRs have become clear. FTRs are characterized by an exaggerated postural reaction, with large EMG responses and co-contracting muscles in multiple body segments. This balance reaction is associated with marked postural instability (greater body sway to the perturbation). When the same perturbation is repeated, the size of the postural response habituates and the instability disappears. Other issues about FTRs remain largely unresolved, and these are addressed here. First, the functional role of FTRs is discussed. It appears that FTRs produce primarily increased trunk flexion during the multi-segmental response to postural perturbations, thus producing instability. Second, we consider which sensory signals trigger and modulate FTRs, placing specific emphasis on the role of vestibular signals. Surprisingly, vestibular signals appear to have no triggering role, but vestibular loss leads to excessive upper body FTRs due to loss of the normal modulatory influence. Third, we address the question whether startle-like responses are contributing to FTRs triggered by proprioceptive signals. We explain why this issue is still unresolved, mainly because of methodological difficulties involved in separating FTRs from ‘pure’ startle responses. Fourth, we review new work about the influence of perturbation direction on FTRs. Recent work from our group shows that the largest FTRs are obtained for toe-up support surface rotations which perturb the COM in the posterior direction. This direction corresponds to the directional preponderance for falls seen both in the balance laboratory and in daily life. Finally, we briefly touch upon clinical diagnostic issues, addressing whether FTRs (as opposed to habituated responses) could provide a more ecologically valid perspective of postural instability in patients compared to healthy subjects. We conclude that FTRs are an important source of information about human balance performance, both in health and disease. Future studies should no longer discard FTRs, but routinely include these in their analyses. Particular emphasis should be placed on the link between FTRs and everyday balance performance (including falls), and on the possible role played by startle reactions in triggering or modulating FTRs.     

Moderation of the effects of discrimination-induced affective responses on health outcomes

Objective: The goal of the study was to examine differential mediation of long-term effects of discrimination on health behaviour and health status by internalising (anxiety and depression) and externalising (hostility and anger), and to explore moderation of these effects, specifically, by the presence of support networks and coping tendencies.

Design: The current analyses employed structural equation modelling of five waves of data from Black female participants of the Family and Community Health Study over 11 years (M age 37–48).

Main Outcomes Measures: The main outcome variables were health status and alcohol use (frequency and problematic consumption).

Results: Perceived racial discrimination was associated with increases in internalising and externalising. In addition, internalising reactions to discrimination were associated with deterioration in health status and increases in problematic drinking; externalising reactions were associated with increases in frequency of drinking. These relations were attenuated by availability of support networks, and exacerbated by use of avoidance coping.

Conclusion: The current study (a) replicated previous research suggesting that two different types of affective reactions mediate the relations between perceived racial discrimination and physical health status vs. health-impairing behaviours: internalising and externalising, and (b) revealed moderation of these effects by coping mechanisms.     

Ethical Problems in Planning for and Responses to Pandemic Influenza in Ghana and Malawi

Ethical problems are addressed in various ways within countries in planning for and response to pandemic influenza. Here we report on a qualitative study, in which 46 policymakers in Malawi and Ghana were interviewed on how they identified and resolved ethical problems. The study results revealed that ethical problems involving conflicts of values and choices were raised in reference to the extent and role of resources (inequities) and nature of public health interventions (intrusive measures), including the extent and processes of decision making, reasoning, and justification. There is a need for an ethical framework within pandemic preparedness plans to resolve and avert these problems.